The
Battle of Blar-nan-Leine

July 15, 1544

Ewen Cameron, XIII Captain and Chief of Clan Cameron,
along with his followers fought with John Moydartach of Clanranald in the summer
of 1544
against the Frasers at the battle of Kin-Loch-Lochy, better known as "Blar-nan-Leine."
This conflict was also referred to as "The Battle of the Shirts" or
"The Field of the Shirts," since the day being very hot and combatants discarded their plaids,
fighting only in their shirts.

Clan Cameron and Clanranald forces had been plundering the country of
Urquhart and Glenmorriston for that entire summer, taking total possession of
the area. With a reported 300 men Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lord Lovat, whose
forces had been allied with Cameron enemies such as the Grants and Macintoshes,
arrived at the northern end, or head of Loch Lochy, where they met approximately
500 Cameron and Clanranald men awaited them. The Camerons descended from a
nearby hill and divided into numerous companies, probably based on clan
affiliation. The action commenced with sallies from the opposing archers,
which lasted for quite some time or until they had depleted the stock of
arrows. At that time the Highlanders made their charge and met on a flat
plain near Kilfinnan, with great bloodshed on either side. It is said that
Cameron archers heroically charged into the fray, recovering spent arrows, which
were directed at the Frasers with deadly point-blank accuracy.

Exactly what the outcome was is unclear. It is said that of the 300
Frasers, only four survived the battle; Lord Lovat was among the
casualties. His eldest son wounded and taken prisoner, perishing from his
wounds a few days afterwards. According to Cameron and Clan Ranald
accounts, the Frasers were soundly defeated, with other records relating that
they lost almost their entire able male population. Yet according to the
Frasers, only ten men from amongst the Cameron/Clanranald forces remained
alive. Clan Fraser records also include reports that eighty of the
deceased Fraser men left pregnant wives at home, each of which delivered a baby
boy; exaggerations had a way of entering historical record during these early
times. A much more reasonable tale is that each man had "seen to it
that his wife was 'with child' before they left for the battle."

Regardless of the exact casualty count, Clan
Cameron and Clan Ranald greatly profiting from their victory, and subsequently carried out most successful
raids upon the Grant and Fraser lands, which were incredibly rich and fertile
to the Lochaber men. Owing to his role in this conflict Ewen fell
into disfavor with Huntly, then Lieutenant of the North. Ewen Cameron would
be executed as a result of this battle and other actions at Elgin in
1547.